You are on 12 months parental leave and have several jobs around the home that could be done by a young person such as weeding, babysitting and housework. There were several young people from the program that you previously ran (who will not be clients when you return to work), who are desperate to get their first job (and the good reference that would hopefully come with it).
You want to offer one or more of these young people a few hours work on a regular basis over a few months, just to help you get on top of things at home.
What do you do?
G'day,
ReplyDeleteI'd say this is a tricky one. Especially if you live in a country town or small town where work is minimal and gossip or talk is maximal.
In the city it's also difficult but there should be more opportunity for work then just you! I'd advise your young person / client to try harder in the city.
I dunno. It sets you up for trouble if you rescue someone cos they'll always come to you for help.
Your better off to teach a man how to fish rather than just out-right give a man a fish.
Laterz.
It's important to remember that by establishing and maintaining professional boundaries with the young people that we work with is one of the best things we can do as a youth worker. Whilst this situation might seem like a scenario where we could be flexible with this, especially if it is in a small community once you have demonstrated to a young person that your boundaries are flexible you are opening yourself to your boundaries constantly being tested. In this situation it's also about fairness & transparency. Will all the young people involved in the program feel that it is fair that you have chosen one of them for the job? On a personal level I also wouldn't like young people I work with knowing where I live. If it is in a small community this can be very difficult to maintain but once clients know where you live it is then very easy for them to come back to knock on that door when they do need assistance in the future rather then using the correct channels to access support. Sometimes things that are done with the best intention can often have unintended negative outcomes.
ReplyDeleteI see what the last contributor is saying, but I think there may be some circumstances when employing a young person in this situation might be ok. For example, you may have a significant level of trust for this young person... you may know how much this job could help them out and give them a start... you know that they will never be a client again.
ReplyDeleteFor me it comes down to the issue of when and if a worker/client relatinship ends, therefore enabling another relationship, such as employment, to begin. Is there a time period that must elapse before you could employ them, or are they always a client, even when they are 30?
But, in this case, I still think there could be a scenario when employment is ok.
I think the idea of a gap of time between someone being a client and having some other relationship is wise. I don’t believe that someone who was once your client can never have any sort of other relationship with you, such as employee or, for that matter, co worker. I do believe, though, that there should be a clear understanding that this is a new and different relationship. There should be sufficient time elapsed so that you, the young person, their friends and your organisation are all clear that this new relationship is different, that this is not an extension of your youthwork role, or a new way of doing youthwork. Depending on the people involved and the nature of the new relationship, this could be a few months, years or never. At a guess, a rule of thumb could be that, if you’re not comfortable sacking an (ex client) employee who is performing poorly, maybe you’re not comfortable in the employer role yet, and shouldn’t take it on.
ReplyDeleteI also see a big difference between babysitting and weeding. There’s a much stronger invitation into your life for a babysitter. They look after your kids, are trusted without supervision in your home, allowed to see how you live... I'm not comfortable having that kind of intimacy with an ex client.
It's all about boundaries and if they were always clear this would not be on the ethical dilemma page. I would say that it is not appropriate to have a very recently ex client employed by you to work at your home.
ReplyDeleteFrom a risk assessment point of view there are already warning bells going off, as the level of professionalism and supervision would probably go out the window, with no policies and procedures in place at your home. This puts the worker on maternity leave at risk, potentially the young person and also the organisation.
We all want to help people which is why we work in the industry. Help
the young person by referring them to an employment agency and help
yourself by finding someone not connected to your organisation to do the house work. Remember, where possible leave your work AT WORK. It's better for everybody in the end.
OK, YAPA here… It appears that a consensus is emerging, but it raises the next question: If we agree that they are not always a client, even when they are 30, then how long until you can treat an ex-client as a non-client?
ReplyDeleteI doubt that a set length of time, such as 1 or 2 years, could apply in every situation. David (above) said... "There should be sufficient time elapsed so that you, the young person, their friends and your organisation are all clear that this new relationship is different, that this is not an extension of your youthwork role, or a new way of doing youthwork… this could be a few months, years or never."
So, does anyone have a policy that says how to calculate this length of time?
What should such a policy say?
And should the policy treat employment/ contractual relationships, friendships, and sexual relationships differently?
Does anyone have real-life experience solving these policy issues?
I think that there is nothing wrong with this situation. Infact I'd go one step further by inviting the young people and there family to help around the house and then pay them with food and drinks. Then afterwards throw a massive party with kegs and cartons. I feel this would not only improve the young people/worker rapport but the whole community spirit will also benefit.
ReplyDeleteI really feel that there is a real lacking of this within most communities and that it is up to workers to sometimes do things that are beyound the normal by giving the most disadvantage a go where others are not prepared too.
I would say it depends on your own willingness to go back to someone whom you have known on a different level (whatever the level) and going back to that level with them is inevitable.
ReplyDeleteThis is where it is each to there own. You could be willing to further your relationship with them (friendship or what not) but it will invariably (like all relationships) be testing of you and it is whether you are willing to take the time, the effort, the risk... so for example a girl whom was part of a youth group whom you never really had any deep contact with is different to a domestic violence client or something that can change peoples lives and you were there...
How much does the client see you as their rescuer so to speak...thats the issue. If they're independent and totally in control of their life... fine. If not... then word to the wise, be careful, you might end up with an extra family member! :-)
Cya.
Not a good idea, ideal over emotion.If you’re a youth worker and work from a basis of emotive impulse it is not helpful for you or your client, as we all should know, it is our aim to lead the horse to water and let it drink...not dunk its head and drown it! I have seen so many youth workers go down the long dark path or 'saving the world' and suffer for it and fail, especially when it comes to the application of child protection legislation. NEVER let a young person into your home unless your willing to adopt them!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI must say it concerns me that some youth workers feel that it is ok to invite a client or ex client in this example to ones home for any purpose. Yes we all work in this industry because we want to make a difference and yes most of us go above and beyond but that should never mean blurring the boundries between our personal and professional lives. If we want to assist young people with employment then this should be done on an organisational level not a personal one. This leaves staff open for so many issues all of which in themselves would create another topic for discussion
ReplyDeleteTwo words spring to mind straight away - child protection. I personally would not be alone with any young person in my own home, except a close relative. Even if my partner was present, it still opens a whole can-of- worms. By all means, while they are still a client, give them the know how to enable them to find a job elsewhere. Realistically how many youth workers on maternity leave could afford domestic help and the appropriate insurance cover?
ReplyDeletethere are some factor to consider-depending on the size of the community (area) where you live and the level of client envolvement with this serviceand yourself as a youth worker the young person has had could change how long has it been since you worked with this client and how well do you know this client.
ReplyDeleteI know from personal experiance that a worker and a client can be friends. My previous worker is godmother to my children and i love her (not in a perverse way) but i am trusted by that worker.i think it depends on the people.
I know as a client that there were boundries and my worker made them clear without making me feel bad.This very special worker made me feel like i wanted to do better,gave me confidence and strength when i thought none was left.Now i am doing my Diploma in youth work and know that this worker would help me,be a reference etc. In saying that i wouldnt want to ask that worker for a job as boundries were set up when i was young so to me it is respect for this worker.
It is important to realise your motivation in offering work to any of these young people. If it is charity then that is probably not a good reason. Also anyone that you offered work to would need to be looking for work in the field that you are offering. A person who does not overly like gardening is not very good at even something a simple as weeding. What if your offer backfires and their work is not of the standard that you would reference well. There are times when this would work but it would depend a lot on the people involved.
ReplyDeleteif this oppurtunity to provide a start to young persons working life is handled with diplomacy and the same professional manner as if they were going for a formal position then i cannot see why this should be a drama.
ReplyDeleteyou should maybe approach it with some type of agreement to be signed which gives the person the role and duties to be performed so that it seems more professional and you establish that this relationship is based on work and not a prsonal one.
we all need a leg up so to speak in life and this can do wonders for future work oppurtunity by giving valuable experience and reference.
With this you could always go to your work place and talk to your boss about employing some of the young people .covering all the aspects from OH@S to,policies and procedures . there are a number of ways this could work . Having a worker with them or even organising tafe courses in child care and gardening and they use the time that they spend with you as experience.while being paid and feeling useful and having some self worth .this would be a good oppatunity for the young people as they could branch out and start there own mowing and gardening business . not all people are bad and some times they just need a little help .
ReplyDelete